Welcome to TWIB’s Weekly Top 5 Videos. This is a segment where we will be looking at some exceptional visuals from various acts from around the globe. The music video format has been around for decades and through the 90s and 2000s, it has really taken flight from multi-million budget music videos, to mid to low-budget videos with exceptional features. In this section, we will not discriminate but rather highlight some of the creative visuals that pop up on our radar.

YACO – “ATM”.

Christiansburg, VA born, Mt. Airy, NC-based indie artist Yaco kicks off this week’s video list with his money-themed record titled  “ATM”. The self-produced track has a mellow and somewhat ethereal texture layered over bouncy trap drums. He sure sounds in his element as he delivers carefree flows laced with his happy demeanour and a tinge of melodic runs as well. The visual is cinematic and quite conceptual as we follow the young artist through different phases of financial strengths and lack of.

 

 

Teeg Austin – “Black Caesar”

Bronx, NY’s emcee Teeg Austin embodies the spirit of the legendary “Black Caesar” in his new release. The track was produced by UK producer Bop Phrases who laces Teeg with a drumless soulful piece made up of soft vocal runs, lush keys and warm textures to boot. Teeg is in the zone as well and delivers a picturesque performance ripe with detailed and vivid lyricism. The accompanying visual was filmed in midtown Manhattan in the wee hours of the evening and captures Teeg alongside his crew doing what they do best.

“Black Caesar” is the first leak from the forthcoming album All Praises, which is fully produced by Beatenanut, who has previously laced tracks for artists including Dark Lo, Eddie Kaine, Cydney Poitier and XP The Marxman. Austin states that this is his most personal work to date and that he will be performing material from the project on his forthcoming mid-west tour run supporting Rome Streetz.

 

 

 

JS – “Guns & Butter”

Texas-bred JS is a rising rapper who caught our eyes and ears with his new single “Guns & Butter”. Over a punchy and cinematic backdrop, he delivers an insightful filled performance ripe with gems and the dynamics of street life. Armed with a distinct high-pitched texas drawl, he takes listeners into the dark crevices of the streets and how he found a way out of it all. The visual is more performance-based and captures JS in all his glory.

 

Yung Envy – “HeartBreaker”.

Yung Envy’s “HeartBreaker” is the lead single off his 72204 album and it’s a standout track that showcases his stylish and off-beat rap cadence. Over a funk-laden and upbeat backdrop, he states his claim as the rapper to watch with his fiery and no-holds barred style. The visual is a blend of performance shots, and cut scenes with engaging set pieces.

 

Aztec Flow – “Serpico” (feat. Atahan)”.

Mexican-Australian rapper, songwriter, producer and filmmaker Aztec Flow helps close out this week’s list with the cinematic visual for his song “Serpico”. The edgy trap track showcases his rapid and edgy flow and off-kilter rhyme schemes peppered by thick 808-driven drums and woozy synths. Aztec sure is in rare form with his energetic flows and conceptual bars that tackle the modern-age hypocrisy shown on social media. He is joined by fellow emcee Atahan who adds his own laidback flow to the mix.

The visual follows both rappers are members of a futuristic police team going after non-complying groups with semi-automatic guns. The theme is set in the future where drugs have been secretly legalized and task forces within this new fictional government have begun cracking down on those who do not comply with their taxing of the products.

Aztec is currently with Tical Records, which he and artist/best friend Atahan have built up together.